Starting gate master switch and circuitry

ABSTRACT

A race track starting gate has stalls with doors that are released by electromagnets to assume open positions when a starter button is operated to break the circuit to the electromagnets. The electromagents are in a circuit system that includes a double pole, double throw switch associated with a relay coil and a release coil that operate the switch to simultaneously ring the bell alarms upon the breaking of the circuit to the electromagnets.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,854,451

Mackey Dec. 17, 1974 {54] STARTING GATE MASTER SWITCH AND 3,163,150 12/1964 $11115 et =11. 119/155 CIRCUITRY [75] Inventor: Leroy S. Mackey, Charles Town, W. Primary EXami'1er*L0ui5 Mancene V Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mason, Mason & Albright [73] Assignee: United Starting Gate Corporation,

Tuckahoe, NY

22 Filed: Nov. 19,1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21 1 Appl' No: 417,229 A race track starting gate has stalls with doors that are released by electromagnets to assume open positions when a starter button is operated to break the circuit U-S. CI. to the electromagnets The electromagents are in a Int. 1 ircuit ystem that includes a double pole double [58] Field of Search 1 19/155; 317/123, 135 R1 throw switch associated with a relay coil and a release 317/1371 154 coil that operate the switch to simultaneously ring the bell alarms upon the breaking of the circuit to the [56] References Cited electromagnets.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.319.420 5/1943 Macksoud 119/155 3 4 Drawmg F'gures KEY l5 lfL l 30 START BUTTON 12v 0c DOOR MAGNETS PATENTEU 1 74 SHEET 20F z" STARTING GATE MASTER SWITCH AND CIRCUITRY This invention relates to a race track starting gate system in which the starting is accomplished by releasing the gates doors and simultaneously ringing the bells to signal the start of the race. The usual circuit arrangement to accomplish the above involves a separate breaker switch that is dependent upon the physical movement of one or more of the doors to actuate a breaker arm of the switch. Also, in prior art systems, the starter is provided with a trigger that can be remotely operated with respect to the gate and the trigger breaks a separate circuit leading to electromagnets on each door. Breaking the magnets circuit allows bias springs on each door to quick swing all doors to full open position whereupon the starting hell or bells ring.

The present invention is a circuit system similar to the above-described prior art, but includes a double pole switch that eliminates the bell breaker switch while ensuring that the bells will be rung once the current to the electromagnets is broken. Thus, the bells are certain to be rung simultaneously with the interruption of current to the magnets. Further, only one circuit is provided for connection to the bells as well as the electromagnets on the doors.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the starting gate;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the circuit of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the master switch and connections; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the switch.

In FIG. 1, a starting gate 1 of the type used at race tracks has a frame of interconnected beams that define a plurality of side-by-side stalls 3 with doors 5 hinged to the frame at the forward ends of the stalls. Each stall is preferably closed by a pair of abutting doors 5 which meet so that parts of electromagnet assemblies 40 oppose one another to retain the doors in abutting closed position. Upon discontinuance of current to the electromagnetic devices, springs (not shown) bias the doors to quickly swing to full open positions. One example of the actual fastening structures on such doors operable herein is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,878,246.

It is the usual practice to break the current to the electromagnets that retain the doors closed and ring one or more bells through a separate switch to signal the start of each race. With the circuitry shown in FIG. 2, the bells 50 on gate 1 are activated automatically and simultaneously upon the release of doors 5.

A master switch includes 8 posts mounted on support 12 attached to gate 1. The source of current can conveniently be one or more 12V lead cell batteries with negative leads to No. 4 post and the magnets 40 are placed in circuit through wires 11 and 13 respectively. The current from No. 4 post can pass via wire 15 through locking switch to No. 7 post or alternatively to No. 5 post by way of primary wires 17 and 19 respectively. When current is circuited to No. 7 post through wire 17, it flows through solenoid relay 14 to posts Nos. 2 and 3, which are connected, and through positive wire 21. Energizing relay 14 moves contacts 16 and 18 together so that current is completed to magnets 40 through spring arms 22, post No. 6 and wire 23.

Posts Nos. 2 and 5 are connected through release coil 24 and posts 1 and 5 are connected to one another by spring arms 22 when the latter are released by a pivotable armature latch 26 upon energization of coil 24 which disconnects contacts 16 and 18, and current to magnets 40, whereupon doors 5 are released to swing open and open the stalls 3. When coil 24 pivots armature latch 26, contacts 16 and 28 are bridged through arms 22 so that current no longer passes to the door magnets through wire 23 from the post No. 1 and wire 25 from post No.3 to bells 50. Coil 24 is activated when starter button 30 is closed permitting current flow through wire 27 to post No. 8 and then to wire 29.

As shown in FIG. 1, the starter button 30 is supported on the frame, but in practice the button is normally attached to the circuit by a plug in connection 32 and 34. The button 30 can be operated from a remote site usually a starters box overlooking the gate 1. Also, locking switch 20 is shown attached to the frame of gate 1 near the master switch support 12 for purposes of illustration only. The locking switch 20 is normally switched off so that current only flows through wire 19 and not 17 leaving magnets 40 deactivated and the doors 5 open for transport or non use. However, relay 14 is not energized and the bells 50 are not activated.

When gate 1 is used, the switch 20 is key operated to allow current to pass through wire 17, but not wire 19, so that contacts 16 and 18 are bridged by arms 22 and the doors 5 can be closed manually until magnets 40 are positioned to retain the doors against the gate frame closing the stalls.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show master switch 10 with spring arms 22 bridged at one end and establishing the circuit between contacts 16 and 28 to ring bells 50 when current to the door magnets 40 is discontinued. Armature latch 26 is attached to release coil 24 and pivots to release block 39 when current is broken to relay coil 14, which normally attracts the block 39 until arms 22 establish communication between contacts 18. Leaf spring 37 biases arms 22 upwardly once block 39 is released by latch 26 so that contacts 16 and 28 are urged together.

What is claimed is:

1. A starting gate for race tracks comprising a frame and a plurality of side-by-side stalls formed by said frame, door means pivoted to said frame adjacent the forward end of each stall, said door means being normally biased to an outward position to open the forward end of each stall, said door means being closeable and releaseably held by electromagnetic means in a circuit with a power source on said gate, said circuit including a bell signal, a relay coil with an armature and two pairs of contacts, a locking switch in said circuit to energize said relay and establish current to said electromagnetic means through a first pair of said contacts, a release coil with a pivotable armature latch in said circuit and said release coil being in communication with a starter switch, said pairs of contacts being alternatively connected by spring arm means which are normally biased to bridge a second pair of contacts, said pivotable armature in a first position latching said first pair of contacts in communication with one another to close the circuit to said electromagnet means and retain said door means in closed position, said starter switch being operable to energize said release coil and pivot said armature latch, breaking the circuit to said electromagnetic means whereby said arm means is recontacts are positioned above said arm means and the leased to bridge said second pair of contacts leading to latter is Spring biased upward! the bell signal, sald bell signal belng activated substan- 3. The gate of claim 2 wherein Said two pairs of tially simultaneously with the release of said armature latch and said electromagnetic means which permits 5 contacts are posmoned above and below said arm Said door means to Open i Stalls. means to form a double pole double throw switch.

2. The gate of claim 1 wherein said second pair of 

1. A starting gate for race tracks comprising a frame and a plurality of side-by-side stalls formed by said frame, door means pivoted to said frame adjacent the forward end of each stall, said door means being normally biased to an outward position to open the forward end of each stall, said door means being closeable and releaseably held by electromagnetic means in a circuit with a power source on said gate, said circuit including a bell signal, a relay coil with an armature and two pairs of contacts, a locking switch in said circuit to energize said relay and establish current to said electromagnetic means through a first pair of said contacts, a release coil with a pivotable armature latch in said circuit and said release coil being in communication with a starter switch, said pairs of contacts being alternatively connected by spring arm means which are normally biased to bridge a second pair of contacts, said pivotable armature in a first position latching said first pair of contacts in communication with one another to close the circuit to said electromagnet means and retain said door means in closed position, said starter switch being operable to energize said release coil and pivot said armature latch, breaking the circuit to said electromagnetic means whereby said arm means is released to bridge said second pair of contacts leading to the bell signal, said bell signal being activated substantially simultaneously with the release of said armature latch and said electromagnetic means which permits said door means to open said stalls.
 2. The gate of claim 1 wherein said second pair of contacts are posiTioned above said arm means and the latter is spring biased upwardly.
 3. The gate of claim 2 wherein said two pairs of contacts are positioned above and below said arm means to form a double pole double throw switch. 